Entrepreneurship

Entrepreneurship, small businesses, new businesses, expansion into new sectors (oceans, clean technology, digital start-ups, healthcare innovation, and more) and the further development of strong existing sectors (tourism, arts, and culture, food and services, etc.) are key to the future of Cape Breton Island.

Today in Canada, women account for about 36% of business owners. According to Industry Canada, 47% of small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) were entirely or partly owned by women. Approximately 51% of Aboriginal-owned SMEs belong partly or wholly to women. This is good, but we think we can do better.

The videos below highlight the diversity, tenacity, inventiveness, and resourcefulness of female entrepreneurs in Cape Breton. The women in these videos work in technology, tourism, arts, sport, photography, health care, law, entertainment, food, social enterprise, and more. They are solving problems in their communities through entrepreneurship and providing their communities with the things they need to thrive and grow. They are showing us what a vibrant, prosperous, creative future on our Island can look like. And they are just the tip of the iceberg.

Cape Breton is better when women are in business. Business is better when women are in business. We are all better when women are in business.